It’s a great time to reset so that you are feeling great and healthy for the summer, fall and beyond!
What if you used springtime as the time to clean up the clutter around your health?
Let’s face it, most of us have at least one or two untidy health habits that weigh us down. Why not use the momentum of spring to clean up those habits?
Here are five health habits that I commonly see in patients that can be cleaned up this spring to improve health!
Alcohol. Alcohol use and abuse has unfortunately exploded over the last two years or more. If you’ve been drinking daily, you should know that you’re increasing your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, digestive issues, accidents, memory problems, mental health issues and memory issues. Now is the time to slow way down or stop drinking booze. If you need help to stop drinking, seek it out and if you’ve been drinking heavily, be very cautious and seek help to stop drinking.
Sleep. Gone are the days of bragging about how little sleep you got! Now we’re focusing on getting solid sleep and waking up rested and refreshed in the morning. If you’re not sleeping, check your alcohol use, blue light exposure, caffeine use and other basic sleep hygiene habits. Still having trouble sleeping? Your insomnia could be caused by an elevated cortisol output or other root cause medical issue that needs to be addressed.
Sugar. Sugar consumption is detrimental to your health on a lot of levels, including dysregulating your blood glucose and putting you at risk of obesity and diabetes, negatively impacting immune health, potentially increasing cancer risk, adverse mood effects and more. A piece or two of dark chocolate is fine, but many times, sugar is consumed in a food-like product that’s engineered to keep you eating and not feeling full or satisfied. That’s pretty gross manipulation by the “food” industry that has zero interest in your health. If you feel like your cravings are out of your control, look at your gut health. Imbalances in gut flora, including bacteria and yeast, can create wild cravings that feel impossible to squash.
Lack of exercise. Over the past two or more years, I’ve sadly seen many, many people fall out of shape. Lack of exercise puts you at higher risk for obesity, diabetes, cancer, hormone imbalance, heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. I understand that many people fall into the “I don’t have time” trap, but exercise is so crucial that you must carve out time to move your body. If you haven’t been exercising, start simple! Walking for 20 minutes four times a week is a good start, and when you’re ready for more intense exercise, work with a trainer for at least a few sessions so you don’t injure yourself.
People. I’m not sure about you, but the past two years have really shown me who I want in my life and who I don’t need in my life. If you have people who lift you up and inspire you to be the person you strive to be, keep them close! If you have people who use you for what you can offer, people who throw tantrums and/or bully, or otherwise behave in ways that create an imbalanced relationship, it’s OK to let them go. Creating boundaries and letting toxic people leave your life is a compassionate act for both you and them.
Maybe none of the categories above apply to you, but are there other habits around your health that can be tidied up this spring? It’s a great time to reset so that you are feeling great and healthy for the summer, fall and beyond! FBN
By Amber Belt, N.D.
Amber Belt, N.D. is a naturopathic physician and co-owner of Aspen Integrative Medical Center where she helps patients get healthy from the inside out. She is also co-owner of Sage Sirona, which focuses on natural first aid and education. Dr. Belt has been practicing naturopathic medicine for more than 15 years and can be contacted via aspenmedcenter.com or sagesirona.com. You can also call her office at 928-213-5828.
